James Robinson (racer)
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" Robinson was a NASCAR
driver from 1979-1987.
Winston West Series. He soon began to enjoy success with the series winning the NASCAR Winston West Series Championship in 1983, 1984, and 1985 - finishing no worse than fifth in the series standings for eight years in a row. Robinson recorded 13 NASCAR Winston West Series wins and won most popular driver many times.
Robinson made his NASCAR Winston Cup Series debut on January 14, 1979 at the year’s season opener, the Winston Western 500 at Riverside International Raceway
’s 2.62-mile road course at Riverside, California
driving John Borneman’s No. 81 Borneman Plastering Chevrolet. Robinson completed 17 laps of the 119-lap event before suffering an engine failure. Robinson returned to Winston Cup Series competition driving A.J. Kurten’s No. 78 San-Val Lumber Supply Chevrolet in the NAPA Riverside 400 and in the Los Angeles Time 500 at the 2.5-mile Ontario Motor Speedway
at Ontario, California
.
Robinson entered the same three events in 1980 driving Kurten’s No. 78 San Fernando Valley Lumber Chevrolet finishing 20th in the Warner W. Hodgdon 400 at Riverside. In 1981, He drove Jack Williams No. 78 San Fernando Valley Lumber/Hammer Security Chevrolet in the season opening Winston Western 500 at Riverside finishing sixth. He finished tenth when the series returned to Riverside for the Warner W. Hodgdon 400 driving the No. 78 Oldsmobile. The series returned to Riverside for a third visit for the Winston Western 500 in November where Robinson was swept up in a crash on the 53rd lap.
Robinson again competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1982 in two events at Riverside, the Budweiser 400 and the Winston Western 500 recording a 20th place finish. When the NASCAR Winston Cup Series visited Riverside in 1983, Robinson was on hand in the No. 78 Hammer Security Systems Oldsmobile. He finished 11th in the Budweiser 400 and 21st in the Winston Western 500.
In 1984, Robinson once again competed in both Riverside events on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series schedule, the Budweiser 400 where he finished 14th in the No. 78 Gibson Oldsmobile and the Winston Western 500 where he finished 29th.
In 1985, Robinson finished 13th in the Budweiser 400 and 12th in the Winston Western 500 at Riverside. He finished 15th in the 1986 Budweiser 400 at Riverside and 25th after an engine failure on lap 100 of the Winston Western 500.
Robinson’s final year of NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition came in 1987. He finished 36th in the Budweiser 400 and 12th in the Winston Western 500 at Riverside.
Jim was inducted into the NASCAR West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2002.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver from 1979-1987.
Career
In 1978, he began competing with the NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Winston West Series. He soon began to enjoy success with the series winning the NASCAR Winston West Series Championship in 1983, 1984, and 1985 - finishing no worse than fifth in the series standings for eight years in a row. Robinson recorded 13 NASCAR Winston West Series wins and won most popular driver many times.
Robinson made his NASCAR Winston Cup Series debut on January 14, 1979 at the year’s season opener, the Winston Western 500 at Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
’s 2.62-mile road course at Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
driving John Borneman’s No. 81 Borneman Plastering Chevrolet. Robinson completed 17 laps of the 119-lap event before suffering an engine failure. Robinson returned to Winston Cup Series competition driving A.J. Kurten’s No. 78 San-Val Lumber Supply Chevrolet in the NAPA Riverside 400 and in the Los Angeles Time 500 at the 2.5-mile Ontario Motor Speedway
Ontario Motor Speedway
The Ontario Motor Speedway, located in Ontario, California, east of Los Angeles, was the first and only automobile racing facility built to accommodate major races sanctioned by all of the four dominant racing sanctioning bodies: IndyCar Series and USAC for open-wheel oval car races; NASCAR for a ...
at Ontario, California
Ontario, California
Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area...
.
Robinson entered the same three events in 1980 driving Kurten’s No. 78 San Fernando Valley Lumber Chevrolet finishing 20th in the Warner W. Hodgdon 400 at Riverside. In 1981, He drove Jack Williams No. 78 San Fernando Valley Lumber/Hammer Security Chevrolet in the season opening Winston Western 500 at Riverside finishing sixth. He finished tenth when the series returned to Riverside for the Warner W. Hodgdon 400 driving the No. 78 Oldsmobile. The series returned to Riverside for a third visit for the Winston Western 500 in November where Robinson was swept up in a crash on the 53rd lap.
Robinson again competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1982 in two events at Riverside, the Budweiser 400 and the Winston Western 500 recording a 20th place finish. When the NASCAR Winston Cup Series visited Riverside in 1983, Robinson was on hand in the No. 78 Hammer Security Systems Oldsmobile. He finished 11th in the Budweiser 400 and 21st in the Winston Western 500.
In 1984, Robinson once again competed in both Riverside events on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series schedule, the Budweiser 400 where he finished 14th in the No. 78 Gibson Oldsmobile and the Winston Western 500 where he finished 29th.
In 1985, Robinson finished 13th in the Budweiser 400 and 12th in the Winston Western 500 at Riverside. He finished 15th in the 1986 Budweiser 400 at Riverside and 25th after an engine failure on lap 100 of the Winston Western 500.
Robinson’s final year of NASCAR Winston Cup Series competition came in 1987. He finished 36th in the Budweiser 400 and 12th in the Winston Western 500 at Riverside.
Jim was inducted into the NASCAR West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2002.